Box Score ST. JOSEPH, Mo.— In a matchup between the two top teams in the Park regional bracket, the No. 5 ranked CSUSM softball team defeated host and  No. 19 ranked Park in extra innings Tuesday to improve to 2-0 in opening round play of the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Their win now puts them in the driver's seat to advance to the double elimination portion of the tournament in Columbus, Ga. Featuring only the 10 opening round pool winners.

The Cougars wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning after Kaitlin McGinley singled through the hole between third base and shortstop and promptly stole second base—her 41st steal in as many tries this season. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to third, Alex Miller brought her home with her 22nd double of the season to give Cougar ace Cortney Allen an early 1-0 lead.

Allen was in fine form again Tuesday after striking out a season high nine batters against Dickinson State Monday, allowing just one single through the first four innings. CSUSM loaded the bases in the fifth inning but could not score, and the Pirates responded with an equalizing run in the bottom of the frame without registering a hit after three CSUSM errors.

Neither team put together a strong scoring chance throughout the remainder of regulation, but Park threatened in the eighth after a leadoff walk and bunt single put two runners on with no outs. Allen induced a bunt pop-up for the first out, and threw out the next batter on a sacrifice bunt to give CSUSM 2 outs with runners on second and third base. Allen escaped the inning unscathed by getting a pop-up to third base and send the game to the ninth inning.

In the ninth, Caylyn Rodriguez slammed a double to deep left to kick start a huge Cougar rally. Brittany Guy single and stole second base before Alex Miller came up with a clutch one-out single to center to bring home both runners and give CSUSM a 3-1 edge. Olivia Lucatuorto followed up with a two-run homerun to left field on the next pitch to extend the lead to 5-1.

Allen— who only allowed two hits through the first eight innings— gave up a pair of doubles in the ninth inning which closed the gap to 5-2, but sealed the victory with a comebacker to the circle and threw the runner out to pick up her NAIA leading 33rd win. She now stands a 33-5 on the season with a 0.94 ERA in 231.2 innings.

CSUSM needs just a win tomorrow to secure their place among the final 10 teams that will play in double elimination format in Columbus, Ga. The Cougars will take on the winner of third-seed Marion (Ind.) or Park on Wednesday.

Note: Marian defeated Park 2-0 to advance to the championship game against CSUSM.